Suction cleaner



June 24, 1941 D. G. SMELLKE SUCTION CLEANER Filed Aug. 6, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Donald G: S mellie ATTORNEY June 24, 1941. LI 2,246,862

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Aug. 6, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 26 INVENTOR Bondld G. Smeliie .ATTORNEY June 24-, 1941. SMELLIE 2,246,862

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Aug. 6, 1937' 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 i YXQMQQ.

INVENTOR Donald 6.8mellie Fly-1! June 24, 1941. SMELL; 2,246,862

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Aug. 6, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Donald .0. Smellz'e ATTORNEY Patented June 24, 1941 s PATENT OFFICE SUCTION CLEANER Donald G. Smellie, Canton. Ohio, asoignorto The Hoover Company. poration of Ohio North Canton, Ohio, a cor- Applioation- August 6, 1987, Serial No. 157,701

This invention relates to suction cleaners in general, and more particularly to cord take-up devices to pick up the slack and house the electric cord which conveys current to the cleaner motor from a source of current supply.

An object of the invention is to provide a reel for taking up the slack in the conductor cord of a device of this type. A further object is to provide a reel concentric with the motor housing and which will not materially detract from the ap -1 pearance of the machine as a whole. Another, object is to provide a reel which is concentric with and rotatable about the cleaner motor housing to wind and unwind the conductor cord. An-

other object is to provide a reel movable inrecti-J linear and arcuate paths with respect to the mtor housing to effect reeling and unreeling of the conductor cord. A further object is to provide a new and improved type of reel commutator to convey current to the motor. Other objects will be apparent from the following description of the embodiments of the invention shown inthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of asuction cleaner including anembodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and showing a cord clamping means;

Fig. 3 is a section line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a section partly in elevation line 2-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section along the line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a section along the line 6-,-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the means for conveying current to the cord reel;

Fig. 8 is a section along the line H of Fig. 7 showing the means for conveying current from the cord reel'to the motor; c

Fig. 9 is a diagram of the electric circuit;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view partly. in elevation of another embodiment of the invention, illustrating another form of cord reel;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged section along the line of Fig. 10, showing means for conveying current from the cord reel to the motor;

1 Fig. 12 is a section along the line |2- -|2 of Fig.

Fig. 13 is an elevation of the cord reel; and

Fig. 14 is a diagram oi the electric circuit.

Referring to Figures 1 to 9, a suction cleaner embodying one embodiment of the invention is disclosed. The cleaner comprises a body having along the partly in elevation along the way 2| opening directly to the eye 23 of a fan chamber 24, while the passageway 22 extends to a motor driven pulley 25 supporting a belt 28 extending through the passageway 22 to a rotary agitator. not shown. in the mouth of the nozzle 20. Both passageways are provided at their ends with removable cap members 21, 21. The machine is supported by front and rear wheels 28 and 29 respectively, the former being provided with height adjusting means for the purpose of raising and lowering the mouth of the nozzle relative to the surface covering undergoing cleaning.

The fan chamber is integral with and forms a part of a housing 32 provided with removable side walls 24 and 3B which are rotatively seated upon circular flanges 35, 36 formed upon the in- .ner walls of the passageways 2| .and -22 so that the housing may be rotated about a horizontal axis. Suitable seals 31, 21 are provided to render the joints air tight. False side members 38, 38 are carried by the passageways 2| and 22 and are formed with peripheral flanges which extend into circular channels 39, 39 of the housing to cover the sealed joints and to improve the appearance oi the machine.

Disposed within and concentric with the housing 22 is a motor casing 40 enclosing a motor 4| provided with an armature shaft 42 one end of which is :Iournaled in a suitable bearing 43 supported by the inwardly extending boss 44 formed integrally with the side wall 35. One end 0! the armature shaft 42 carries the motor pulley and the opposite end carries a fan 45 disposed in the fan. chamber 24. Themotor casing 40 is rigidly secured by meansoiscrews 41 to an inwardly extending annular ribof the housing 32, the rib 45 also forming the inner wall of the fan chamber 24, the outer wall thereof being defined bythe removable plate 34. The fan chamber 24 communicates with an exhaust passage 48 formed in the housing 32 and is suitably connected to the lower end of a dust filtering bag 49. A cleaner handle 50 is rigidly carried by the outer housing 32 in a rearwardly opening socket 5|- formed integrally thereon. From the foregoing it will be I perceived that the motor casing and the housa nozzle 20 communicating with two rearwardly ing 32 are concentric with respect to each other, and are both rotated as a unit when the handle is swung in a vertical plane during operation of the cleaner. I

My improved cord reel 55 may be formed of sheet metal and is interposed between and is concentric with the motor casing 40 and the outer housing 32. The reel 55 comprises a cylinis provided with an annular flange 8i and the opposite end is reduced as at 82. Four ball bearing housings 85 are equally spaced about and secured to the inner surface of the drum 88 for housing ball bearings 55 which rotate about an annular race 51 forming part of the motor end cap 88. 'An annular ball bearing housing 88 is secured to the reduced end 82 of the reel 85 for ball bearings 18 which travel along theannular race '|I secured to the boss 44 of the side wall 85. A contractile helical coil spring 14 has one end suitably anchored to the boss 44, while the other end is anchored to the reel 55, to rotate the latter in counter clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, tending to wind the cordon the reel. a

In order to wind the cord in uniform layers about the reel I have provided a cord guiding means comprising a cord wheel 15 iournalled in a follower I supported on a rotatably mounted shaft II provided with opposed double threads 18, I8 which are separately engaged by a shoe 88 carried on the follower I5. Engagement of the shoe 88 with one of the double threads on the rotating shaft 'I'I causes the follower I8 to move in one direction parallel to the axis of the reel to guide one layer of cord on the reel, and thereafter the shoe 88 engages the other double thread and causes the follower I5 to move in the opposite direction to coil the next layer of cord on the reel. Rotation of the reel causes the shaft II to be rotated by means of a gear 88, mounted on the reduced portion 82 of the reel, and is in mesh with a gear 84 carried on a shaft 85 supported by the side wall 85, the shaft 85 also carries a smaller gear 85 in mesh with antating-but permits it to slidealong the rear wall 8 I of the housing.

The fixed end of the cord 5: is anchored to.

the reel 55 by means of a clamp 88 which is suitably insulated from the reel by an insulating member 8|. The uncoiled portion of the cord 58 extends through a relatively wide opening 52 of the housing 82 and then between the cooperating finger clamps 82, 82 pivotally supported in the casing 88 of a cord clamping device 58. Springs 84, 84 tend to swing the clamps into cord locking position to hold the cord in paid out position. Each clamp is provided with a cam surface, a portion 282 thereof acting as a brake on the cord and'another portion 288 permitting the cord to be pulled therepast. Finger engaging portions 85 of the clamps 82 extend through slots in the casing 88 and are adapted to be engaged by the. operator's fingers to pivot the clamps releasing the grip of the latter on the cord, permitting the spring 14 to rotate the reel 55. and wind the cord thereon.

A ring 8|, of insulating material, is rigidly mounted around the reel 55 and is provided with annular grooves for receiving collector rings 88 and 81 which respectively slidably engage leaf spring contacts 88 and 88 mounted on an insulated block I88 fixedly secured to the housing 32 by means of a screw I8I. Disposed about the I 2 ,s4e,eos drical cord receiving drum 88 one end of which motor housing 48 is] anxinsuiatin'gring-Iflapro vided with annular grooves in which is fixedly mounted a pair of collector rings I88 and I84 which are respectively slidably engaged by leaf spring brushes I85 and I85 secured to the rotatable reel 55 and properly insulated therefrom.

As shown in Figure 8 the motor circuit ineludes one of the feed wires II8 of the cord 58 connected to a tab III of the collector ring 88 which slidably engages thebrush 88 connected to the conductor II2 extendingupwardly in the handle 58to one side of the switch I I8,-the other side of the switch is connected to a conductor -.nectedto the brush I88 slidably engaging thecollector ring I84 in turn electrically connected to a leadwire III to the motor 4|. From the motor H a lead wire H8 is connected to the collector ring I88 which isslidably engaged by brush I85 electrically connected to the other feed wire III of the cord 58 to complete the electric circuit for the motor.

In the operation of the device, assume the' cord 58 is wound about the reel 55 with the plug II8 disposed in the substantially complementary opening II8 of the cord controlling case 88. When it is desired to unwind the cord the operator pull on the latter and causes the clamps 82 to rotate into the casing 88 out of binding engagement with the cord thereby enabling the operator to easily unreel the cord and rotate the reel. Rotation-of the reel 55 is transmitted'by the train of {tears to cause rotation of the threaded shaft I'I which causes the cord reeling guide I8 to travel along one of the double threads in a rectilinear path parallel to the axis of the reel so as to uniformly unooil the outer layer of cord. When the outer layer of cord is completely unwound, the shoe 88 engages the other double thread and causes the follower 15 to travel in the opposite direction to uniformly unwind "each coil of the inner layer of cord.

After the required amount of coil has been paid out the operator ceases to exert a pull on the cord, whereby the clamps 82 are immediately urged into cord clamping position by the springs 84. when it is desired to wind the cord on the reel 55 the cord clamps 82 are manipulated to release the brake on the cord 58 which permits the spring 14 to freely function to rotate the reel relatively with respect to the motor casing 48 and housing 82 to wind the cord thereon. Rotation of the reel 55 causes the cord reeling uide I5 to traverse one of the double threads on the shaft I1 to wind each coil of the inner layer of cord uniformly on the reel and thereafter the follower "travels in the reverse direction due to engagement with the other thread to uniformly coil the outer layer of cord. The wide cord opening 52 in the housing 82 permits the cord to move with the coil reeling guide 15 as the latter travels along the shaft 11.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 10 to 14 and may be employed in the type of suction cleaner shown in Fig. 1, including a nozzle 28, side passages 2I and 22, fan chamber 24, belt pulley 25 and belt 25. In this embodiment the outer housing I28'is provided with removable side walls I II and I22 which are rotatably mounted on the circular flanges 85, 88 formed upon the inner walls of the passageways 2i and 22 and is also provided with an exhaust outlet 48 communicating with the fan chamber 24 and with a dust filter bag 48. A handle I in a bearing g macaques? is: rigidly secured-In a socket II in the housintfi tor casing I25 enclosing a motor [-25 an armature shalt i211, one end or which. is journaled I25 within an inwardlyextending boss I25 i'oi'ined integral with the side wall I22 The motor casing I25 i rigidly secured, by means oi! screws I'll, to an inwardly extending rib Illof the housing I20. Accord-- ingly it is apparent that swinging movement oi. the handle IIII during operation. or the cleaner Disposed the outer housing i2. is a mo- I causes the motor casing I25 to move with the 1 as the latter rotates about the cirhousing- I and 22 in cular flanges 50 of the: passageways 2| .thenozzle 20.

In this embodiment the cord reel I25 is movable in a rectilinear path and is rotatably concentrically mounted with respect to the motor casing I25 and the cleaner housing I20, The reel moves in a; rectilinear path parallel to the axis 01 the motor as the cord I135 is wound or unwound, so as to at all. times maintain the point oi cord application to the reel In alignment with the center of the handle through which the cord passes. As the cord is wound or paid out, the reel is caused to move in the proper rectilinear direction due to the friction developed between the adiacent coils: as they are applied or removed from. the reel during rotation oi the latter. Q

The reel I 55 is provided with a cylindrical supporting member I31 on which is fixedly mounted a hub I38 terminating at its ends in outwardly extending annular flanges I 39 and I40. The hub I38 is provided with a helical groove I42 extending from a point short of the flange I40 to the other flange I39 to receive the first layer of cord.

' The inner layer IIII oi the cord is wound in the helical groove I42 to the end flange I39, the latter causes the cord to climb therealong to form the outer layer I90 which is wound in a helix in the reverse direction due to the rectilinear movement of the reel I35, as shown in Fig. 13.

For the purpose of reducing iriction so that the reel I35 will move easily in a rectilinear direction, a bearing structure including an elongated cylinder I 43 is interposed between the motor casing and the reel I35. Rigidly secured to and extending longitudinally along the outer surface of the cylinder I43 is a plurality of spaced tracks or ball races I44 having an upwardly extending rib I45 to provide double race I45, I46 for groups of ball bearings I41 carried in suitable ball hous ings I48 arranged at opposite ends of the reel member I31. The cylinder I43 is substantially twice the transverse length of the helical groove I42 so that as the reel I travels to the right to the dotted line position, as viewed in Figur 12, one layer of cord is completely paid out. The cord I35 is secured to the reel by a clamp I49 properly insulated as shown in Figures 10 and 13, and passes over a pulley 200 rigidly attached to the housing I20 in alignment with the handle, and upwardly in the latter through the cord controlling device 56, suitably secured to the handle HI.

Mounted at one end of the rotating cylinder I43, is a plurality of spaced ball bearing housings- I59, each accommodating a group of ball bearings I5I which engage an annular race I52 formed on the end cap- I53 of the motor casing I25. Atthe opposite end of the cylinder I45 is a plurality of spaced ball bearing housings I54, each accommodating a group of ball bearings I55 which engage an annular race I56 mounted on an inwardly extending boss 2" oi the housing side 223.. A. contractile spring I51 has one end suitably anchored to the boss I I5; and the other end attached. to the rotating cylinder I45, to at all times provide: the energy" required to rotate the; cylinder 3 and thusfthereel i151.

Commutation or current between the reel "5 and thermotor casing I25 is eiiected by means of a pair otpieai'. spring brushes I00 and III secured to the reel means or rivets I10 and insulated thereironi as indicated-at Ill. The brushes I50 and III respectively slidably engage conductor bars I." and; I15 insulatably mounted longitudinally along the outer surface of the cylinder I41 Another pair 0! leaf spring-brushes I14 and I15 are insul'atably mounted on the inner surface of the cylinder I43. and respectively engage collector rings I11 and I10 insulatably mounted, on the motor casing I25,- as indicated at I00.-

As shown in Figure 14 the circuit for the motor comprises one or the ieedwires Ill. of the cord I35 connected to the brush I50 'slidably engaging the conductor bar "2- connected to the brush I15 slidably engaging the rotatable collector r1118 I10 connected to a conductor I02 extending upwardly in the handle to one side of the switch I03 mounted on the. handle. The other side of the switch is connected, to a conductor I54 extending torthe motor I25 connected to a lead wire I05 secured to thecollector ring I11 which is slidably engaged by the brush I14 connected to the bar I13 slidabiy engaged by the brush IiI connected to the other ieed wire I80 of the conductor cord I35. to complete the motor circuit.

In the operation of the device, assume that the cord is wound about the reel I35 and the latter thereel I35 progressively moves'in a rectilinear path along thecylinder I43 to unwind the cords at all times centrally of the handle I4I. The reel is caused to move in a rectilinear path since the outer layer I90 0! the cord is wound in a helix, and the frictlo'ndeveloped between the cord as it is paid out and the wound coils, as viewed in Fig. '12. together with the natural tendency of the cord to follow a straight'line, is sumcient to cause the reel to move to the right in a rectilinear path. When the outer layer of cord I90 is completely unwound the reel I05 will have reached-its limit of travel tothe right, indicated in dotted lines in Figure 12. As the inner layer ISI 0! the cord is unwound the reel E35 travels in the reverse direction in a rectilinear path to the left, from the dotted line position as viewed in Figure I2. The reel is caused to travel the races I45. when a pull is no longer exerted on the cord the cord control clamps 92 operate to hold the cord in paid out position.

when it is desired to rewind the cord, the cord clamps are manipulated to release the brake on the cord, whereby the spring I51 operates to I rotate the reel I35 andthe cylindrical track I43.

The reel I35 will move in a rectilinear direction in the-helical groove I42, and ,ac'cordingly'the pointv of cord application on the rotating reel will at all times be along a linecentrally of the handle, I. When the first layer I9 I of the cord has been completely wound about the reel the first coil! of the next layer I80 will climb the w flange I39 and bewound'in a helix reverse to the first layer ISI of the cord and with a lead in the opposite direction andcause the reel I35 to move in reverse rectilinear direction. Upon releasing the cord clamps 92 the latter act as a brake on-the cord to overcome the force exerted by the spring I51 tending to rotate the reel I", to thereby stop the latter.

During the rectilinear and rotatable movement of the reel I35 the brushes I60 and IBI slide in a rectilinear path along the conductor bars I12 and I13, and the brushes I14 and I15,

for electrically connecting said cord with said motor.

2. The combination with an electrically operated portable device having a motor, of a cord for supplying current to the motor, and a cord take-up about the motor axis and movable in rectilinear and arcuate paths with respect to the motor for taking up said cord.

3. The combination with an electrically operated portable device having a motor, or a cord for supplying current to said motor, and a cord take-up including a member concentric and rotatable with respect tosaid motor, and a reel concentrically mounted on said member, said reel movable in a rectilinear path with respect to said supporting member and rotatable therewith to efiect winding and unwinding of said' cord.

4. The combination with an electrically operated portable device having a motor, oi a cord for supplying current to said motor, a housing for said motor, a cord take-up including a member concentric and rotatable with respect to said motor housing, and a reel concentrically mounted on said member, said reel movable in a rectilinear path with respect to said supporting member and rotatable therewith to effect winding and unwinding of said cord, and commutation meanscomprising annular contacts carried by said housing, brush contacts carried by said supporting member to slidably engage said annular contacts, contact bars carried by said sup-- porting member, and brush contacts .carried by said reel to slidably engage said bar contacts.

5. The combination with an electrically operated portable device having a handle, oi a current-supplying cord slidably mounted along said handle, and a cord take-up including a reel for said cord, said reel rotatably mounted on an axis transverse to the axis of said handle and movable in a rectilinear path parallel to its rotating axis to at all times apply said cord on said reel at a point in line with said handle.

6. The combination with an electrically operated portable device having a handle, 01' a cura 2,246,862 I along the track'lll; since the cord is being wound rent-supplying cord slidably mounted alongx said handle, and'a cord take upin'cluding 'a reel having a helical groove Ior receivingthe first layer of said cord, means iorrotating said reel about an axistransverse to the longitudinal axis of said handle to effect winding of said cord thereon, saidreel being movable in a rectilinear path parallel to its", rotative axis to at all times apply said cord on said'reelat a point in linewith said handle, said reel moving in saidrectilinear path due to the friction developed between said helical groove and said cord as it is progressively coiled on said reel during rotation oi'the latter.

7. The combination with an electrically operated device having a handle, of a current-supplying cord slidably mounted along said handle, and a cord take-up including a reel for, receiving a plurality of layers of said cord, means for rotating said reel about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of said handle to eflect winding of said cord thereon, means on said reel providingahelical groove for the first layer of cord and terminating in a flange to cause the coiling of a second layer of said cord in a helix reverse to said first layer of cord, said reel being movable in a rectilinear path during winding of said second layer of cord due to the friction developed between the paid out cord and the adjacent coil on said reel to thereby at all times apply said second layer of cord on said reel at a point in line with said handle.

8. A cord take-up device comprising a rotatably mounted reel having a helical groove to receive a cord thereon, spring means for rotating said reel to wind said cord thereon, said reel being movable in a rectilinear path to at all times apply said cord on said reel at a point flxed with respect thereto, said reel moving in said rectilinear path due to the iriction developed between said helical groove and said cord as,it is progressively coiled on said reel during rotation of the latter.

9. In a suction cleaner of the type having an ambulatory body and a handle pivoted relative thereto upon a transverse axis, current conducting means slidably carried by said handle and extended downwardly to said body, and a take-up rotatably carried by said body and concentric with the pivotal axis of said handle for reeling and unreeling said current conducting means to maintain a constant length or the latter between said handle and the point of application of said conducting means on said take-up.

10. In a suction cleaner oi the type having an ambulatory body and a handle pivoted relative thereto upon a transverse axis, current conducting means carried by said handle and extended downwardly to said body, a take-up rotatably carried by said body and concentric with the pivotal axis of said handle for reeling and unreeling said current conducting means to maintain a constant length of the latter between said handle and the point of application of said conducting means on said take-up, and a casing for said take-up fixed to said handle and mounted for movement therewith.

11. In a suction cleaner, an ambulatory body, suction creating means including a motor, Ian and easing therefor pivotally mounted upon said body, a cord take-up mounted for pivotal movement relative to SQldbOdY upon the pivotal axis of said motor and fan for reeling and unreeling a current carrying cord, and a handle mounted the handle and point of application oi said cord on said take-up- 12. A suction cleaner, comprising an ambulatory body, a casing rotatably supported by said body and having means to support-a motor within said casing, a motor housing about said motor, a cord reel rotatably mounted on said housing and disposed between said casing and housing, an electric cord slidably carried by a handle and wound about said reel, contact means carried by said motor housing, and additional contact said cord to said motor, and cord locking means means carried by said reel and rotatable with respect'to said first mentioned contact means to electrically connect said cord with said motor, said handle being rigidly connected to said casing to rotate the latter with respect to said body and reel to maintain a constant length of said.

handle and wound about said reel, means tending at all times to rotate said reel in one direction to wind said cord thereon, relatively movable contact means for electrically connecting said cord to said motor, said handle being rigidly connected to said casing to rotate the latter with respect to said-body and reel during the operation of said cleaner to maintain a constant length of said cord between said handle and the point of application of said cord on said reel, and manually operable means carried by said handle to limit the movement of said cord under winding impetus of said reel.

' 14. A suction cleaner, comprising an ambulatory body, a casing rotatably supported on said body, a motor supported within said casing, a cord reel rotatably mounted between said casing and motor, an electric cord slidably carried by a handle and wound about said reel, means tending at all times torotate said reel in one direction to wind said cord thereon, means to guide said cord in layers around said reel, relatively movable contact means for electrically connecting said cord to said motor, said handle being rigidly'connected to said'casing to rotate the latter with respect to said body and reel during the operation of said cleanerto maintain a constant length of said cord between said handle and the point of application of said cord on said reel.

15. In a suction cleaner, an ambulatory chassis, a motor carrier by said chassis,'a casing enclosing said motor and pivotally supported on said chassis, a handle rigidly carried by said casing tor pivoting the latter about its pivotal axis, a cord take-up interposed between said motor and casing and rotatably mounted coincidental to the pivotal axis of said casing, and a current conducting cord connected to said motor and carried by said take-up. I

16. In a suction cleaner, an ambulatory chassis, a motor carried by said chassis, a casing enclosing said motor and pivotally supported on said chassis, a handle rigidly carried by said-casing for pivoting the latter about its pivotal axis, a cord take-up interposed between said motor and casing and rotatably mounted coincidental to the pivotal axis or said casing, a current conducting cord wound upon said take-up and slidably mounted on)said handle, means connecting on said handle.

17. In a suction cleaner, an ambulatory chassis, I

a motor supported on said chassis, a casing rotatably mounted on said chassis, a handle for rotating said casing with respect to said chassis when said handle is oscillated to propel the Y cleaner over the surface being cleaned, a reel rotatably mounted in said casing, a current-conducting cord wound upon said reel and connected to said motor, and a cord slot in said casing for guiding said cord with respect to saidreel, said cord slot moving with said casing with respect to said reel to guide the winding and unwinding of said cord with respect to said reel.

18. In a suction cleaner, an ambulatory chassis, a motor supported on said chassis, a casing rotatably mounted on said chassis, a handle for rotating said casing with respect to said chassis when said handleis oscillated to propel said cleaner over the surface being cleaned, a reel rotatably mounted in said casing, a current-conducting cordv extending along said handle and wound upon said reel and connected to said motor, means tending to rotate said reel to wind the cord thereon, means on said handle to limit the movement of said cord under the winding impetus of said reel, and a cord slot in said casing for guiding said cord with respect to said reel to guide the winding and unwinding of said cord with respect to said reel.

19. In a suction cleaner, an ambulatory chassis, I

a motor mounted on said chassis with its axis extended transversely to the direction or movement or said ambulatory chassis, a rigid support a motor mounted on said chassis with its axis extended transversely to the direction of move-- ment of said ambulatory chassis, a rigid support extended from one side of said motor, a rotatable cordtake-up reel rotatably mounted on said support, spring means between said support and said reel tending to rotate the latter'in one direction, current-conducting means electrically connecting said reel to said motor in all rotational positions of the former, a currentconducting cord connected to and wound upon said reel, and manually operable means to control the winding of said cord upon said reel.

21. In a suction cleaner, an ambulatory chassis, a suction creating unit including a body pivotally mounted on said chassis and housing a motor and tan, a cord take-up within said body comprising a reel and a spring, one end oi said spring being connected to said body and the other end to said reel, a handle connected to said body and adapted to pivot therewith; on said chassis, a cord connected to said reel and extending outwardly through said body, means electrically connecting said cord to said motor, said handle and body and reel pivoting freely as a unit' relative to said chassis whereby the tension of said spring is not varied insaid pivotal movement.

' DONALD G. SMELIJE. 

